I can thank the creators-literally, not figuratively or symbolically--of a bounty of goods and services, arts and sciences, government and justice.
And instead of trying to repay this debt with burnt offerings, or prayers, or expensive ceremonies, I can repay it in kind, by dedicating myself to trying to add to the stock of goodness in the future, for the benefit of others. We nonbelievers have no difficulty with Thanksgiving; we just Eliminate the Middleman and give thanks directly to the real, ongoing, human project of making the world safer and better for everyone.
If you look at the comments, you'll find many people who simply cannot conceive of not thanking God on Thanksgiving. Someone named Carolyn says "If I were you and weren't to put my thanks in God directly, I think I put my thanks in the founding fathers, for their great faith in God which has created the society which you are thankful to be living in. If you are not thanking God directly, you should be thanking the idea of God and righteousness." This assumes that the "founding fathers" couldn't have accomplished what they did without theism, a dubious proposition at best.
Another person, this time anonymous, uses their comment to rant about the dangers of Islam and how secularism is too weak to stop it: "So on Thanksgiving, the thing I will be most thankful in America is for those who have a strong sense of values, of identity, of purpose, and of understanding in a higher calling and deity beyond our lonely mortal lives - so that America has the strength to maintain an identity in the face of conquerors who seek to rule the world." I don't think this person sees the irony in trying to combat Islam with some of the same weapons Islam is supposedly using.
Like Dennett, though, many atheists are able to celebrate Thanksgiving without any gods because there's no need to thank any gods for anything in our lives...
Stardust at God is for Suckers wrote:
Although I have no religious beliefs, I still am very thankful for the many good things in my life. ...Thanksgiving is a day to get together with those we appreciate and love and to celebrate that love and appreciation we have for each other. I wish everyone, no matter what your beliefs are, a very happy Thanksgiving Day with all of those who matter most to you, whether there in person or far away but close in heart.
Vjack of Atheist Revolution wrote this:
I have never considered Thanksgiving to be a religious holiday, although I have known many people who treat it as if it is. Their rationale, if questioned, is often that it is meaningless to be thankful without having a supernatural entity to which one gives thanks. I disagree. I've always had people in my life to whom I give thanks, and I've never had any problem expressing joy at positive circumstances. None of this has ever required me to posit a supernatural entity.
On past Thanksgivings spent with family, it was common for someone to ask everyone at the table to join hands, bow their heads and go around stating something they were particularly thankful for that year. Most of the time, no religious references were made. Nobody invoked various gods, and nobody said "amen." It never struck me that something supernatural was missing or that the exercise would be any more meaningful if I was thanking someone other than living persons or general good fortune.
I hope that you all have a good Thanksgiving with your families or whatever you're doing...
I’ve always regarded Thanksgiving as a harvest festival more than anything else. I may not observe quite the same Thanksgiving as you do, though, as my country doesn’t have any mythology associated with it. I’m sure harvest festivals long predate any of the romanticized stories that are told about the origin of the holiday these days.
If it is a religious holiday, then it’s a pagan one to celebrate the end of the harvest, making it to the end of the food growing cycle alive and giving thanks to the people who helped you get to it.
But, it’s largely a secular holiday, to mark the end of the season
on the flip side, there was sure nothing for the aboriginal people to be thankful for – since their helping the early settlers only sealed their doom
Personally, I give thanks to a nation that allows us the freedom to choose to give thanks to whatever or womever we choose, for whatever we choose to give it for. You want to thank a god? Have at it. You want to thank your family, yourself, the guy next door, or you could choose not to thank anyone at all. That’s something to be thankful for, in and of its self.
Although I was raised in American culture and have celebrated Thanksgiving with family and friends many times in the past, it has ceased to have special meaning to me in that I genuinely appreciate the fortunes I possess in my life every day. It seems personally silly to set aside only one day a year to be genuine in that thanks when there are 364 other days just as deserving of that recognition. I choose not to waste those days with apathetic, lukewarm or half-hearted appreciation and instead give them the recognition they deserve. Not to do so is immaturity.
I have to agree that Thanksgiving has never been a religious holiday if by “religion” you mean the traditional monotheistic religions, particularly christianity. As I understand it, it’s intended to remember a historical event, not a religious one. Of course, even the historicity of the event is dubious to say the least. In any case, my definition of religion is any set of passionately and genuinely held beliefs put into consistent daily practice. This has the meaning that, even though technically an “atheist” in the minds of some, I am a religious person in that my positive beliefs about nature, life, mankind and myself are passionately and genuinely held and practiced consistently every moment of every day. If I express gratitude about anything, yes, it is born of my personal beliefs and religion and is therefore a religious act. There is simply no mysticism characteristic of traditional religions involved. This happily means that among the many agents of my own fortunes to be regularly thanked or appreciated, I rightly include myself as the primary agent of those fortunes.
We are as much products of the things we can control as we are of those things we cannot. We deserve a share in the credit for who and what we are … as well as a share of the blame if any.
Atheists seize the day.
Thanksgiving Ritual – by Marilyn LaCourt
Last year I had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner at my friend’s house. I arrived just as we were being invited to take our places at the table and I felt a little awkward because I didn’t know a number of the other guests. I looked toward the kitchen expecting someone to bring on the food. It sure smelled good, and I was hungry.
Imagine my confusion when my host looked around the table at each of his guests and asked, “Who wants to start?”
I knew there was supposed to be food, but I still didn’t see any, not even a relish dish or a breadbasket to pass. What were we supposed to do? Pass imaginary bowls filled with imaginary mashed potatoes, stuffing, turkey and cranberry sauce? No one spoke.
Finally my host’s eyes settled on his seven-year-old niece.
Cindy stood up, cleared her throat and smiled at her brother. “Thank you, Jimmy, for teaching me to play games on your computer.”
Jimmy blushed and said, “You’re welcome.”
Eric, a nice looking young man with bright blue eyes was next. He thanked his parents for giving him his first telescope when he was ten, and for the many hours they spent encouraging his appreciation for the wonders of the universe. I learned later that Eric had been accepted into a post graduate program to study Astronomy.
My friend, Ron, the host, said thank you to his wife. “I really appreciate the way you put up with my complaining, your understanding and patience with my cause fighting. I love the wonderful meals you prepare for me everyday, your companionship and your sense of humor. Thank you for being my wife.”
Liz smiled and answered, “You’re welcome.”
I was beginning to get the picture. I had some thank you’s of my own and I was getting heady with the whole idea but I decided to watch and listen a bit longer.
“Thank you for taking care of me when I had such a bad case of flu last winter, Rose. I know how terribly unpleasant that must have been for you, and you were so kind to put your own life aside for a few days to stay with me.” Gina’s eyes were damp when she looked at her daughter. “You were such a comfort.” Then she turned to her son-in-law. “Thank you too, Karl, for fending for yourself and the kids while she was taking care of me.”
“You’re welcome.” “You’re welcome.”
Then Rose stood up and walked over to where her husband was sitting. She bent down and gave him a kiss. “Thank you, honey, for working so hard and supporting us and giving me the opportunity to be the stay at home mom I’d always hoped I could be.”
Chuck thanked his friend Bob for all the wonderful tomatoes and other produce Bob gave him during harvest time. He also thanked Jerry and Judy for teaching him how to make the world’s greatest apple sauce. Jean thanked Patty for listening when she needed a sympathetic ear. Juan thanked his grandmother for the loan and told her he had put the money to good use. Sonja thanked her neighbor, Dorene, for the wonderful homemade mayonnaise and other goodies. And on it went.
I was thinking about all the wonderful people I wanted to thank. I guess I was drifting off in some sort of a trance when I heard the next person mention my name.
“Thank you, Marilyn.” She said, “You helped my daughter and son-in-law through some rough spots in their marriage.”
I waved my hand in a never mind gesture. “I was just doing my job.”
Ron nearly knocked over his water glass as he stood to interrupt me. “No, no, no. That’s not allowed.” He shook his pointer at me. “These are the rules. You only get to say ‘you’re welcome’. If you explain it away you discredit the message and invalidate the sincerity of the person saying thanks. You just got a sincere ‘thank you’, Marilyn. Now, say ‘you’re welcome’.” He sat down and fiddled with his napkin.
“Oops. I’m sorry. I mean…” I looked at the woman who’d thanked me and said, “You’re welcome.” Then I smiled at my host and hostess. “And thank you, Ron and Liz, for inviting me to share in such a beautiful tradition.”
Ron grinned. “You’re welcome.” Liz nodded, “You’re welcome.”
It took a full thirty minutes to get around the table and all the thanks-giving’s. When we finished Liz excused herself to put the finishing touches on the food and Ron poured the wine.